Afrigather 
By Abdullahi W. Yunusa
Once more, it has happy the Lord almighty to open a brand new chapter, approve a recent part and announce a wonderful starting within the lifetime of Mr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji as he begins one other 365-day journey right into a extra promising future at the moment. It’s a reward value rolling out the drums to thank and respect God for. Not many are so lucky to mark their birthday anniversaries. Sadly, as you learn these strains, some folks someplace are battling onerous to outlive, whereas some have simply breathed their final. That is one particular miracle we regularly take without any consideration. So, we’re so grateful to God for including one other stunning yr to our pricey boss and chief, Mr. Adedeji.
Past the standard fanfare and merrymaking that outline birthday anniversaries, it’s a time for severe introspection, soul-searching, stock-taking and self evaluation. It’s equally a time to understand God for the reward of life, a time to indicate gratitude to those that have made life stunning for one, a time to the touch and influence lives positively, and a time to redirect our power and assets in the direction of service to God and humanity. Life is finest lived and loved after we supply our tangible and intangible possessions in service of others, particularly the downtrodden amongst us.
For a person of Mr. Adedeji’s standing who by no means fails to attribute his elevation, success tales, triumphs, victories, favours and accomplishments to God by way of women and men, the easiest way to mark his birthday anniversary is by recommitting himself and assets to the service of God and mankind.
Mr. Adedeji’s story is solely that of a person created by God, nurtured by mankind and catapulted to greatness by honesty, self-discipline and hardwork. The place others attribute their greatness in life to superficial forces, Mr. Adedeji says God and Him alone stays his fortress.
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He has certainly carved a distinct segment for himself as a person of confirmed integrity and noble character. He’s dined and wined with the excessive and mighty. He’s sat, mentioned, deliberated and served on varied vital committees and conferences with the who-is-who each within the personal and public sectors, but he stays as humble as ever. Zacch, as fondly known as by his bosses and contemporaries is an angel in human flesh. Not a person given to primitive accumulation of fabric possessions, as he shares no matter God has blessed him with with everybody no matter standing or social stratification. He’s demonstrated this quite a few occasions.
I nonetheless recall a current encounter with him that left me speechless. He was to attend an official occasion on the Nasarawa State Liaison workplace within the intellectual space of Asokoro in Abuja. All was set for us to depart for Asokoro that fateful morning just for us to find that the car that was to convey a few of his aides, together with this author, wasn’t obtainable. We noticed him off to his automotive and informed him we had been ready for the driving force to return. He instantly requested the photograph man and myself to hitch him in his automotive. We had been each greater than stunned! He adjusted to the fitting and requested us to hop in. An enormous man in Nigeria discomforting himself for the sake of his far junior aides! However for him, that was nothing. He mentioned, “Whether or not conveyed in a bulletproof automotive or tricycle, it doesn’t take away or add something to 1’s life or pedigree”. I sat quietly all through our journey as I ponder over his uncommon show of humility and humanity.
Mr. Adedeji is the fifth substantive Govt Secretary of the Nationwide Sugar Growth Council (NSDC), because it was established by Decree 88 of 1993, now an Act of the Nationwide Meeting, Act Cap. No. 78 LFN of 2004, amended in 2015, to catalyze the event of the sugar trade with a view to making sure that Nigeria attains at the very least, 70% self-sufficiency in her sugar requirement inside the shortest attainable time and even export to earn international trade.
Mr. Adedeji, a consummate monetary knowledgeable with 15 years’ put up qualification expertise in monetary and normal administration, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari because the Govt Secretary of the Council on the tenth of March, 2021 for an preliminary time period of 4 years.
He assumed management of the Council with a confirmed monitor file of over 15 years of hands-on government expertise (+16 years certified chartered accountant) in technique, accounting and monetary administration, monetary evaluation/reporting, inside controls, change administration, and other people administration.
He’s a First Class graduate of Administration and Accounting from the celebrated Obafemi Awolowo College, Ile-Ife and later bagged a Masters of Science diploma in Accounting from the identical college. His insatiable quest for information took him to the well-known Harvard Kennedy College of Authorities in the US of America for an Govt Course in Financial Growth.
Mr. Adedeji’s lengthy sojourn within the personal sector and a four-year stint because the Commissioner for Finance in Oyo state between 2011-2015 with unbeatable and unassailable efficiency information and achievements, have, undoubtedly, ready him for the onerous process of offering the wanted management in Nigeria’s drive to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar manufacturing by way of the trustworthy implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Grasp Plan (NSMP).
He held quite a few senior administration positions whereas working on the Procter & Gamble Firm (P&G), a famend American multinational client items company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Usa of America with branches throughout a number of nations. He was Common Accounting and Stewardship Supervisor between January 2004 to Could 2006 the place he led a cross-functional group to arrange and report monetary statements regionally and globally by way of consolidated knowledge entry software.
Mr. Adedeji’s tradition of hardwork and knack for skilled excellence earned him a better place on the P&G together with his elevation because the Finance Chief-SAP (Techniques Functions and Merchandise) Implementation Undertaking. He spearheaded the day-to-day analysis and implementation of SAP Modules and in addition led a 15-person finance group to develop the interior processes for the roll out of SAP West Africa consistent with the tasks pre-requisites. He later rose to the place of Company Finance Supervisor (West Africa) overseeing Treasury, Company/Affiliate Accounting, AP &Tax on the Procter and Gamble between August 2007 to Could 2011.
Whereas within the saddle because the Commissioner for Finance in Oyo state, he launched quite a few sensible, forward-thinking, revenue-boosting and cost-saving reforms that pushed up the Internally Generated Income (IGR) of the state, plugged monetary leakages, launched finest monetary practices and normal monetary turnaround amongst different improvements. Mr. Adedeji , a Fellow of Chartered Accountant (FCA) can be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
He has attended trainings and took part in a number of government programmes centered on management, capability constructing and growth, finance and accounting, coverage and administration and stewardship in the US of America, Philippines, South Africa, Belgium and Switzerland. Till his appointment because the Govt Secretary of the Nationwide Sugar Growth Council (NSDC), Mr. Adedeji was the Chairman, Governing Board, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College Educating Hospital, Bauchi state.
Right here’s wishing our pricey boss the perfect on the event of his birthday anniversary. Could life be sort, pleasurable, seamless and truthful to him. Right here’s additionally wishing you extra years of impactful service to Nigeria and humanity basically.
Yunusa writes from FHA, Lugbe, Abuja.
